The Vegan Summer 2008

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CHECK OUT OUR NEW VEGAN CATERING FOR ALL GUIDE AND OUR NEW WHY VEGAN LEAFLET ISSN 0307−4811 02

9 770307 481000

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in this issue Global food shortages have gained massive coverage in the media recently.

In The Guardian on Tuesday 15 April, George Monbiot pointed out that: “There is plenty of food. It is just not reaching human stomachs. Of the 2.13bn tonnes likely to be consumed this year, only 1.01bn, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, will feed people.” He also states that: “our [meat] consumption rate is plainly unsustainable.”

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SPRING 2008 HIGHLIGHTS

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FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

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OUT & ABOUT

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MACKA B

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VEGAN WEDDING

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CATERING BOOKLET LAUNCH

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ANIMAL WELFARE ACT

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NEWS AND INFORMATION

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LAUNCH OF WHY VEGAN LEAFLET

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SADHANA FOREST PROJECT

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AGM AND COUNCIL STATEMENT

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VEGETOPIA

The media are starting to acknowledge that growing crops to feed ‘livestock’ is incredibly wasteful, because the conversion rate of plant protein to meat protein is very poor. Jeremy Laurance, writing in The Independent on 16 April, also recognizes this, saying: “It takes 8kg of grain to produce 1kg of beef, and large tracts of forest have been cleared for grazing land that might have been used to grow crops.” Our Media Officer, Amanda Baker, continues to discuss this issue with journalists.

She is even chatting to George Monbiot by e-mail!

Check out our Highlights pages to see what else the Vegan Society has been up to.

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RECIPES

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SHOPAROUND

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CURIOUS VEGETABLES / MEGAN THE VEGAN

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GROW VEGAN

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YOUTH PAGES

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PRISON CATERING AWARDS

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REVIEWS

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EVENTS

We hope you like the new Vegan Catering for All booklet which is enclosed in the magazine and manage to give some copies out to chefs and catering managers as well as distributing as many of our new Why Vegan? leaflets as possible.

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LOCAL CONTACTS

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LIST OF COUNCIL AND STAFF

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CLASSIFIEDS

Rosamund Raha

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CROSSWORD COMPETITION

Editor

The Vegan Society

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Donald Watson House

Local rate 0845 45 88244 Editor Rosamund Raha Proofreader Patricia Tricker Information Consultant George Rodger Design www.doughnutdesign.co.uk YOUth pages Design Johanna Best Front cover photo Californian Poppies

by Roger Merenyi Printed by Cambrian Printers on Recycled paper

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21 Hylton Street

Tel. 0121 523 1730

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Hockley

Fax. 0121 523 1749

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Birmingham

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B18 6HJ

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UK

e-mail: info@vegansociety.com

© The Vegan Society Registered Charity no. 279228 The views expressed in The Vegan do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or of the Vegan Society Council.

Nothing printed should be construed to be Vegan Society policy unless so stated. The Society accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine. The acceptance of advertisements (including inserts) does not imply endorsement.

The inclusion of product information should not be construed as constituting official Vegan Society approval for the product, its intended use, or its manufacturer/distributor. Contributions intended for publication are welcomed, but unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a SAE. Contributions will usually be edited.

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VEGAN SOCIETY SPRING 2008 HIGHLIGHTS EDUCATION Education Show, NEC, Birmingham The Vegan Society held a stall at the Education Show at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on 28 Feb – 1 March, exhibiting to teachers, suppliers and buyers. We made some great contacts and found out about lots of ways to raise the visibility of our material and information. Teachers were excited about the free CDROM, and we gave nearly 300 away, also telling them about our webpages and school speakers.

Contacts made at the show led to: n a link on TeacherNet: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/ n a link on Free-eds: http://www.free-eds.co.uk/ n a request from World Vision to write for their youth magazine n inclusion in an article in SecEd magazine by Susan Elkin.

We’ve given 24 school talks since the start of the Spring term, reaching around a thousand schoolchildren.

Natural and Organic Products Show, Olympia, London The Vegan Society Trademark team, Colm and Sandrine, were delighted by the number of people stopping at the stall to enquire about the trademark. So many companies are interested in displaying the sunflower logo on their products! Both days were very productive and Colm and Sandrine had the opportunity to meet people from all kinds of companies. A lot of trademark packs were handed out and some companies even registered for the trademark on the day. These two days also gave the team the opportunity to meet existing trademark holders for the first time or to exchange views and ideas with them.

INTERNATIONAL TRADEMARK This Spring we have gained new trademark holders in eight different countries including our first ever in Canada, Greece, Israel and the Czech Republic.

MEDIA TRADEMARK More Universities take the Trademark Glasgow University, Nottingham University and Pembroke College, Cambridge, are now using our trademark.

In Go Dairy-Free for The Planet, Amanda Baker cast the spotlight on the heavy ecoburden of dairy cows. The article appeared as a double-page feature in the April edition of Lifescape magazine.

Amanda gave around 100,000 listeners a vegan treat when she was interviewed for BBC Radio Northampton’s Desert Island Dishes. She described a mouth-watering yet simple meal of mushroom and ale pie served with spring onion mash, sautéd kale and pumpkin, followed by baked pears stuffed with spiced chopped nuts and dried plums with a malted chocolate sauce. This was broadcast live at drive time (5:50 pm) on Wednesday 16 April, and the presenters Richard and Annabel seemed most appreciative!

Pat Reeves has been officially nominated by The Vegan Society as a contender for Cosmopolitan magazine’s Ultimate Woman of the Year 2008 awards.

Do you know a vegan who has shown extraordinary courage, been a fantastic friend through thick and thin, selflessly helped others, been a true innovator or is otherwise outstanding? Nominations are open until August, so please let us know about any other Ultimate Vegan Women (and men!)!

Get in touch with Amanda for all things media-related – from advice on writing letters to your local newspaper to offers of stories we can run in the national press!

Contact media@vegansociety.com.

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OTHER SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS

Hospital Caterers’ Association Conference, Birmingham

Hotel and Catering Show, Bournemouth We were very encouraged by the response we received at the Hotel and Catering Show in Bournemouth on 10 and 11 March. The show was right next to the seafront, and after dipping our toes in the waves we enthusiastically began the two-day event.

We spoke to many people from catering businesses and were pleased to hear that most had encountered vegans.

Nine catering colleges asked for information to help inspire the next generation of chefs to make vegan food widely available. Many caterers seemed to realize that they must cater well for all of their customers or their reputation and profits will suffer.

We were kept busy advising on recipes, ingredients and suppliers and seventy people signed up for further information. The bonus was that we may have attracted a few new trademark holders.

The Vegan Society was provided with an excellent opportunity to speak to hospital catering managers and staff attending the Hospital Caterers’ Association 60th National Conference. Staff gave away copies of The Vegan Society’s Catering Guide for Hospitals and Care Homes and many catering staff stopped to speak to us. The conference also gave The Vegan Society a chance to publicize its new award for the hospitals or care homes that provide the highest standards of vegan catering. If you would like to nominate a hospital or care home for the 2008 award please get in touch with our Information Department.

Many catering staff explained that they had encountered vegan patients on their wards and showed a genuine interest in wanting to improve standards. It was not just catering staff who were interested in us: several businesses exhibiting at the conference took home information about our trademark! If you or another vegan you know is due to have a stay in a hospital or care home please contact us for a copy of our booklet to pass on to catering managers.

FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Nigel Winter

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ome environmentalists have been slow to acknowledge the impact of animal-derived foods on the environment but there are signs that the major organizations are taking note.

In the spring edition of Earthmatters Friends of the Earth accept that meat and dairy consumption is a high-impact diet.

They invited their members to take part in a survey about eating meat and dairy products to help guide their future policy.

I know that some of our members have been doing a great job trying to encourage FOE to adopt a pro-vegan policy and we had an advert in their magazine to help raise awareness.

The Worldwatch Institute, another influential organization, has also polled its members. They posed the question: ‘What do you think is the best way to minimize the environmental impacts of eating meat and seafood?’ Out of 2398 votes 42% said: ‘It is impossible to minimize the impacts; we must stop eating meat and seafood.’

We must all keep emphasizing the damage caused to the environment by eating animal products. Some people are promoting technical ‘solutions’ to the problem such as changing the diet of cattle, genetically modifying animals to reduce methane emissions and better manure management. Why waste time and money on such research when the simple answer is to adopt a vegan diet?

Farmers regularly have to adapt to new practices and there will be a bright future for farmers if they switch to producing vegan food!

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OUT AND ABOUT WITH OUR VEGAN CAMPAIGNERS For complete listings of Vegan Society Local Contacts and Local Groups, see pages 38-40

INTERNATIONAL NEWS I have been quite bowled over by the response to my first column as International Coordinator. I had not expected such an outpouring of warmth and friendship and am still barely halfway through responding. To all who wrote, phoned or emailed, I am grateful for your confidence and will do my best to live up to it.

As the world grows smaller and the movement grows larger and more cohesive, it becomes ever more difficult to separate the international from the multicultural and the local.

Following last year’s Vegan Festival in India there has been an upsurge of interest in veganism both in India itself and in Indian communities elsewhere. The UK Jain community, for instance, is increasingly keen to work with the Society for a more compassionate world and many Jains are finding the vegan lifestyle an appropriate expression of ahimsa (striving to reduce harm) in the modern world.

From Africa, a member working for an NGO in Ethiopia has written describing that country as a paradise for vegans, since everyone eats vegan two days a week for religious reasons and vegan food is abundant and delicious. Closer to home, an enthusiastic French vegan would like to organise a vegan festival in Paris in 2010. This will require a lot of work and support, though as usual the first step is getting a bunch of isolated individuals in touch with one another and seeing their enthusiasm grow. At least Paris is not so far away as India and I do speak the language.

An e-group for Jain vegans set up by Mahersh and Nishma Shah (of Shambhu’s Kitchen fame) rapidly attracted interest from around the world, leading to plans for a wider group encompassing vegans and sympathisers of any faith or none who either live in India or have family or other connections with India – do get in touch if you are interested.

Shankar Narayan who founded the Indian Vegan Society and organised the festival last year will be staying with us in London before and after the Dresden World Congress (see Events page) and also visiting Birmingham, so anyone who would like to meet him while he’s in the UK please let me know. Meanwhile, thanks to an inquiry we passed on to Shankar last year UK member Sandra Ellis became part of the Sadhana reforestation project – see page 16 for her lovely article on the subject.

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The multicultural approach to the Department of Health about animal ingredients in medicines initiated by Nitin Mehta now has the assistance of GPs, pharmacists and other health professionals from the Hindu, Jain and Muslim communities as well as the Vegan Society and an article has been submitted to the Journal of British Midwives about the practice of injecting newborn babies with cow bile without adequate information to ensure informed choice.

Other groups in the EU are following our progress with interest since the Equality Act, which accords deeply held beliefs such as veganism the same status as traditional religions, is common to all member states.

That’s all I have space for this time, so Russia, South America and New Zealand will have to wait for next time – but do get in touch if you have an interest in veganism there or anywhere else in the world. I’ll be delighted to hear from you!

Vanessa Clarke, International Coordinator

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LOCAL NEWS The first Activists’ Day of 2008 was held in a packed room at the Society’s Office. If the feedback was anything to go by the variety of talks given by the various speakers went down extremely well, as did the food provided by Veggies Catering Campaign. There are plans for other such days around the country. At the time of writing neither venues nor dates have been fixed but it is hoped to have one in June or early July in London and one in York on Sunday 23 November to fit in with the AGM, which will be held in that ancient and beautiful city on Saturday 22 November. There may also be others. If you want details of Activists’ Days please contact me, preferably by e-mail. Remember that such days are not only for existing and potential Local and Group Contacts but also for any members who want to be more active in promoting veganism in whatever way they can.

School Speakers’ Training Days are organized separately, so if you want details of them you need to contact our Education Officer, Rob, at the Office (youth@vegansociety.com). Some Local and Group Contacts are also on our list of authorized school speakers whilst others find that doing one thing or the other is quite enough.

Several members have told me recently that they have considered applying to be a Local Contact but haven’t got time to do everything. Nobody has! But it doesn’t matter, because Local Contacts do whatever they can with whatever time and skills they have. If you’re one of those who is hesitating and is not sure of what you could do to help, please ask me for a list of suggestions. The only things that Council has decided are essential are that Local Contacts send an annual report (by e-mail is ok), deal with any enquiries or refer them to me or to the Office as appropriate, promote the Vegan Society in whatever ways they can and attempt to recruit members for the Society if/when the opportunity arises.

This does not mean they have to walk round the streets giving out leaflets but if they meet anyone who is vegan they tell them about the Society and encourage them to join.

They are not expected to be experts in vegan nutrition nor to be able to say off the top of their head whether a particular brand of toothpaste is vegan. (However they are expected to know that vegans should ensure an adequate intake of B12, i.e. 3 micrograms per day from fortified foods or 10 mcg from a supplement.)

Similarly Groups are organized in different ways and do different things, according to the wishes and expertise of their members. Some are purely social, meeting once a month for a meal in a restaurant or member’s house.

Some put on library displays, give cookery demonstrations, arrange sponsored events to raise funds ….. even organize free food fairs and vegan festivals. Those in urban areas where there is a concentration of members tend to do the most, but wherever they are based they make a huge difference for animals, people and the environment.

So please get in touch wherever you live if you’d like details about what being a Local Contact involves, to get your group listed in the magazine and on the website or for help with expanding an existing group or starting a new one, including contacting members in your area on your behalf if appropriate.

By the time you read this the bluebells will be a distant memory and summer will be on the way. The next really big event is the Bristol Vegan Fair, once again covering two days, and I hope to see lots of you there on 31 May and 1 June.

Patricia Tricker Local Contacts’ Coordinator

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MACKA B Rob Jackson

Macka B is a wellestablished and internationally renowned reggae star. British born, he has recorded 17 albums and toured the world.

He has just cut a new track all about vegan food. Here he talks to Rob Jackson about what veganism means to him.

When and why did you become vegan?

I stopped eating meat when I was 17 years old. I continued eating fish (I know it’s still meat) and dairy products till about ten years ago. The decision to stop eating meat was to lead a healthier lifestyle, adhering to my faith and out of compassion for the animals. I try not even to kill flies.

The decision to become vegan was a family one. We all came to the conclusion that fishes were animals too and that man does not need dairy products to survive. Even a calf doesn’t drink milk for the whole of its life. With a lot of Black people being lactose intolerant cows’ milk can be very detrimental to our bodies. So all seven of us – me, my wife and 5 children – are all vegans and feel good about it. It is very well documented the negative effect that meat has on our bodies. People just need educating about the alternatives.

How does veganism fit with your other beliefs?

Rastafari is a way of life that very rigidly adheres to the laws of nature.

The ‘Ital’ diet of I-and-I, the brethren and sistren of Rastafari, is essentially a vegan one. Most Rastafari do not eat the flesh of dead animals.

It has been said that the body is a temple and so it should be protected and cared for as such.

All things in nature – fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices – have been provided for I-and-I by the Almighty and should be held sacred as life itself. I am of the RasTafari faith and most Rastas believe in a natural diet, eating from the earth. It is called ‘Ital food’. Some Rastas do eat flesh and fish but a lot of RasTafari are Ital, even cutting out salt from the diet.

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Do you cover veganism a lot in your songs? Tell us about ‘Wha me eat’.

‘Wha me eat’ is really an answer to the question that I am asked over and over and over again – ”What do you eat?” Whenever you tell people you don’t eat meat, fish or dairy they think there is nothing else in the world to eat. So I am showing them that there are many, many things a vegan can eat.

It’s all about education. ‘Wha me eat’ is soon to be released and when I do it live at a concert the people always go wild, vegans and non-vegans, which is a joy to see.

Do you have many vegan fans?

Do you find touring difficult as a vegan? Is the rest of your band vegan?

Touring can be difficult although it is improving with people gaining more knowledge about the vegan lifestyle. I have been to some places where people think if you don’t eat meat you must be sick. A lot of times I take my own food just to be sure. Only one other person in the band is vegan, but sometimes all of the band have to eat vegan because that is what is provided and they are all right with that: it gives their body a break and of course everybody loves good vegan food.

I get e-mails from vegetarians and vegans who support the work I am doing. I would love to do a video for ‘Wha me eat’ and get the message to the masses who are being manipulated into doing and eating what they think is ‘normal’.

To find out more about Macka B visit www.mackab.com

THE VEGAN SOCIETY registered charity number 279228 In 1974 The Vegan Society launched an appeal for a fund to help elderly vegans.

The aim was to fund a retirement home for elderly vegans.

NOTICE is given that money and other property given for this purpose can not be used for that purpose because there was insufficient money for the Society to establish a home. Despite much effort it was not possible to find another organisation that was willing to share the costs and operate to the Society’s required criteria.

The donated money has remained in an account gathering interest.

If you gave money or other property for that purpose you are entitled to claim it back. If you wish to do so you must tell Nigel Winter, Company Secretary of The Vegan Society, Donald Watson House, 21 Hylton Street, Hockley, Birmingham B18 6HJ within 3 months of 30 May 2008. If you wish the money or other property to go to a similar charitable purpose and to disclaim your right to the money or other property, you must ask the person named above for a form of disclaimer.

If you do not either make a claim within three months or sign a disclaimer, the Charity Commission may make a Scheme applying the property to other charitable purposes. You will still be able to claim the return of your money or other property (less expenses), but only if you do so within 6 months from the date of any Scheme made by the Commissioners.

Date of the notice: May 2008

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OUR VEGAN WEDDING Verity Hunt-Sheppard

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n the seventh day of the seventh month in the year 2007 I married the man of my dreams at St John the Baptist Church in Leicester. Our wedding was very much a traditional one: a church service followed by a reception. We had a pageboy, flower girls and my lovely sister as a bridesmaid, a three-tier wedding cake, catering for the guests and an evening disco. However unlike most traditional weddings ours was both inexpensive and vegan!

At the time of our engagement my fiancé and I had been vegan for just under a year and we ummed and ahhed over how vegan our wedding should be. Whether we should provide mixed catering or not was the biggest question. In the end we decided to stick to our beliefs, confident that those who loved us and valued our friendship would understand and probably expect nothing less! It was the best decision we made.

Initially we wanted a local caterer, but the ones we contacted weren’t confident of providing vegan food or were outside our budget, so we contacted vegan caterers Veggies who are based in Nottingham. We had both eaten Veggies’ food before since they cater for many vegan fairs and festivals and are famous for their burgers! In addition they are happy to travel. As ours was an afternoon wedding we decided on an afternoon buffet, consisting of samosas, bhajis, savoury rolls, pasties, sandwiches, various salads and a selection of cakes.

Veggies’ prices were excellent too and well within our budget.

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Our three-tier wedding cake was made and decorated by my mother: all we did was adapt a traditional fruit-cake recipe and hire a professional cake stand to display it on.

Once the food was fully vegan, veganizing the rest of the wedding was easy.

Some main brand beers such as Budweiser and Grolsch are vegan so our vegan guests didn’t miss out at the bar and the bar provided a list of their wines and details of the suppliers in advance so we could check for vegan ones before the big day.

I avoided silk in the clothing of the flower girls and pageboy and my own dress – a beautiful second-hand one from a theatre department – and I wore the veil my mother had worn at her wedding.

My wedding day was, hand on heart, the best day of my life. I still cannot believe how well everything went and what a wonderful time we had. Our decision to have vegan catering was not only respected but praised by our impressed guests. Many couldn’t believe that vegan food could be so delicious and I know some of our friends are now eating more vegan food as a result.

One non-vegan guest told me that she had never felt so satisfied at a buffet.

The response to our vegan wedding was definitely positive and I don’t believe it was much more difficult to arrange than any other wedding.

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TURN EVERY MEAL OUT INTO A PROMOTION FOR VEGAN FOOD!

G VEGAN CATERING FOR ALL Do your local eateries struggle to provide delicious vegan meals?

If so, give them a free copy of our comprehensive vegancatering guide for baffled chefs!

A copy of the catering guide is included in this magazine, but if you need more free copies to pass on to chefs, please contact us at info@vegansociety.com or phone 0121 523 1735/6.

FEEDBACK CARDS You can also ask for copies of our new feedback cards.

After your meal, simply fill in the card and hand it to the restaurant in order to provide feedback.

If you would like to take it further, pick a time when the restaurant is quiet and go in and talk to them about improving their vegan choices.

The Vegan Society catering guide can provide useful information and back-up.

For free copies of the feedback card, please contact us at info@vegansociety.com or phone 0121 523 1735/6.

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THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT – AN END TO ANIMAL CRUELTY IN THE UK? Claire Barnes

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he Animal Welfare Act has already been touted as

I spoke to Jasmijn de Boo, chair of the political party

one of the most fundamental pieces of animal

Animals Count, regarding her thoughts on this matter. She

legislation for nearly a century. However 2005 was

said, “The Animal Welfare Act may contribute to people’s

hailed to be the year that saw the end of hunting

awareness of a duty of care. It may be used as a

with dogs when a ban came into force, but already

framework to test the boundaries of what constitutes

many illegal hunts have been reported without

‘cruelty’ and ‘suffering’ and it may ultimately result in less

subsequent arrests or in fact any action taking place.

suffering. However without proper enforcement too many animals will still suffer.”

Thus we are left to wonder if the Animal Welfare Act will tell a

Although the Animal

similar story. Will it

Welfare Act has been

live up to all the hype, or will it be just another piece of legislation that does not go far enough in protecting animals and is routinely ignored?

The Animal Welfare Act was passed in 2006 and came into force in England and Wales on 6 April 2007. It brings together more than 20 pieces of legislation relating to both farmed and non-farmed animals and extends a duty of care to nonfarmed animals. It makes owners responsible for taking care of the needs of their animals, including providing a suitable environment and diet and protection from pain, injury, suffering and

“The Animal Welfare Act may contribute to people’s

important to point out that it will not be enforced in the way one might assume.

awareness of a duty of care.

So far the Government has

It may be used as a

enforce the new legislation

framework to test the

been advised to use licence

boundaries of what

prosecution costs incurred.

constitutes ‘cruelty’ and ‘suffering’ and it may ultimately result in less suffering. However without proper enforcement too

granted no extra funding to and local authorities have fees to offset any In view of the fact that local authorities have no statutory duty to enforce the Act it is likely that the job of enforcement will ultimately fall to the RSPCA and other animal-protection organizations in the UK – using their already stretched budgets that mainly rely on donations.

many animals will

It seems probable that lack

still suffer.”

be an obstacle to the Act,

of funding could prove to preventing it from making

disease. However many

any real difference to

animal-welfare

animal suffering in the UK.

organizations within the

Jasmijn commented,

UK feel that the Act is not tough enough. They are of

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passed as law it is

“I think that it is ludicrous

the opinion that proper enforcement may prove to be an

that animal-protection organizations are responsible for this

obstacle, making it unlikely that the new legislation will

and I believe that government funding (tax) should be

have any real effect on animal suffering in the UK.

used instead to enforce the Animal Welfare Act.

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T

She admitted to being absent from her home for long periods but said that she thought a friend would take

?

care of her animals. The sentence she received was a lifetime ban on keeping animals plus a six-month supervision order and 120 hours of community service.

What’s more revealing is that in the same month four animal-rights activists received a more unsparing sentence of up to four years in gaol because their behaviour had been deemed to be intimidating. Jasmijn comments, “I think the penalty system is still too low in cases of severe cruelty.”

It is clear that the Animal Welfare Act faces many obstacles and in itself may not end animal cruelty.

However do we have to rely solely on legislation to ensure a better future for

Enforcement of any other law focused on humans is done by government.

Why are animals a different matter. Another challenge facing the Act is one of interpretation. It seems that under it owners themselves and other untrained people will largely be expected to decide what constitutes suffering. And so our understanding of animals’ needs and their capacity to suffer may further nullify any difference that the law

our animals in the UK?

“We must take responsibility

Jasmijn believes that there

for our own actions, analyze

can all do to improve the

are many things that we situation, and it seems

how our behaviour affects

that charity really does

animals and make changes

yard or kennel. We must

accordingly. For example it is

own actions, analyze how

better to adopt an animal

animals and make changes

from a shelter than to buy

it is better to adopt an

from a pet shop or breeder.”

can make. I spoke to Ginger Cullifer, an animalrights activist, who said, “As long as humans have certain perceptions of animals as being inferior, less knowledgeable, without feelings and lacking the ability to reason, the ridding of animal cruelty is entirely unlikely.”

What penalties can an animal abuser deemed to be breaking the law expect to face? They will vary but the most serious offenders could incur a fine of up to twenty thousand pounds and/or fifty-one weeks’ imprisonment. However if past events are anything to go by our legal system is often lenient when it comes to

begin in our own back take responsibility for our our behaviour affects accordingly. For example animal from a shelter than to buy from a pet shop or breeder.

It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, “The greatness

of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” The Animal Welfare Act may prove to be a step in the direction of a country free from animal abuse but it doesn’t have to be the last.

animal cruelty offenders. This was highlighted by the media when they reported the case of a girl who early in 2007 pleaded guilty at Swansea magistrates’ court after RSPCA inspectors found two dogs starved to death.

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NEWS AND INFORMATION

n VEGAN RUNNER

n VEG CHAT MIDLANDS A brand-new Midlands on-line forum has been launched. Veg Chat Midlands provides vegetarians & vegans across the region with an excellent means of communication.

Members can chat about food, friends, TV, books, sport or just vegetarianism/veganism.

There is also a section to discuss campaigning & veggie/vegan promotion. Chat about anything at all with like-minded people and make new friends in your area. You can remain totally anonymous if you wish: http://vegchatmidlands.freeforums.org.

James Meldrum from Liverpool is possibly the fastest vegan runner in the UK (unless you know of a faster one?).

He competed in the Morecambe 20mile road race on 2 March. About 300 runners finished and James came first in one hour fifty-two minutes on behalf of the Vegan Runners UK club. James was using this event as part of his training for the London Marathon on 13 April where again he will be wearing the vest of the Vegan Runners.

The photo was taken during the Stockport 10 miles on 9 December when he finished sixth out of 600 entrants. James normally trains with the Liverpool Harriers.

If you want to know more about Vegan Runners please contact Peter Simpson on veganrunners@talktalk.net or 01908 503919 / 07967 589663, or check out their website – www.veganrunners.makessense.co.uk.

n VEGAN VITAMIN K FOR NEWBORNS Babies are routinely injected with vitamin K at birth to protect against rare but serious haemorrhage (including brain haemorrhage).

In the past the injection was vegan but it now includes a carrier made with cow bile.

There is, however, at least one oral vegan version available on a named-patient basis. This means that it must be prescribed and ordered through a doctor.

n VEGAN PLEDGE With a New Year, New You! message Vegan Campaigns supported 25 Londoners to become vegan for a month. An estimated 137 animals were saved! Half the participants plan to stay vegan and almost all the rest are now vegetarian or are cutting down on animal products.

Meetings were held at the beginning and end of the pledge period where participants could ask questions and discuss aspects of the pledge while enjoying a wide variety of delicious vegan food. During the pledge period participants received information and support by e-mail and phone and were invited to London Vegans’ regular ‘second Sunday’ lunch.

If you wish to use this product, do allow time for it to be sourced and prescribed. If your doctor is unaware of this, your local or hospital pharmacist should be able to help.

Free before-and-after health checks were provided by GP Dr Mike Hooper, who commented afterwards: “It’s surprising how quickly becoming vegan improved people’s health. Most participants lost weight, their average Body Mass Index and Waist-Hip Ratio reduced from an ‘at risk’ level into the ideal range and there was an overall reduction in blood pressure.”

We must stress that we cannot give medical advice but can only pass on information about the availability of products. Please feel free to ring the Vegan Society on 0121 523 1735/6 if you have any queries.

Vegan Campaigns were so pleased with the results that they hope to double the number of participants next year and would love to see the idea catch on nationally. If you would like to organize a Vegan Pledge in your area, do get in touch!

For further information see www.vegancampaigns.org.uk.

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n VEGAN VENTURES COURSE AT THE CORDON VERT SCHOOL Are you under the age of 26? Would you like to learn to cook some yummy vegan meals in a fun and exciting environment? The Vegetarian Charity is running another Vegan Venture Cookery Workshop at the Cordon Vert School. The day is full of inexpensive and simple recipes, aimed especially at young people who may be living away from home for the first time.

Our Education Officer, Rob Jackson, attended one of these courses last year and found it very rewarding: “I learned some new and inventive recipes and got chatting to a lot of interesting people. The chefs were enthusiastic and really at home in the sometimes hectic surroundings, though of course the best part of the day was eating all we had cooked!”

The course is to be held on Saturday 30 August at the Vegetarian Society headquarters in Cheshire. It is completely free but the number of places is limited.

n CALLING ALL VEGANS! We are looking for new ways to spread the vegan word.

We need real-life vegan stories to help us get more local media coverage. So if you have done anything newsworthy, from running a street stall to running a marathon, or if you can describe the benefits of veganism through a personal story, our Media Relations Officer, Amanda Baker, would like to hear from you.

Have you ever been ‘famous for 5 minutes’ or, had a letter published in your local paper, or do you work in the media?

Share your ‘media experiences’, and help your fellow vegans get their voices heard too!

If you have either a story or a media experience to share, please contact Amanda Baker on: 0121 523 1737 or e-mail: media@vegansociety.com.

n VEGFAM NOW HAS A WEBSITE! Those of you who have long wished that Vegfam (one of the charities that help to feed the world without exploiting animals) would get a proper website up and running will be pleased to know that there now is one.

Check it out at www.vegfamcharity.org.uk.

n LIFESCAPE SPECIAL OFFER Get five issues of Lifescape magazine delivered to you post free for £15 and a third of your subscription will go to the animals at the vegan-owned Hugletts Wood Farm sanctuary – www.huglettswoodfarm.org.

A glossy magazine with a conscience, Lifescape is edited by vegans and dedicated to everything that is ecofriendly, fair trade, cruelty free and organic, with regular features on veganism and animal issues as well as on cruelty-free food, fashion and beauty – www.lifescapemag.com.

To take advantage of this offer, send your name, address and £15 to Lifescape Magazine, Dept VS, 353 Shenley Road, Borehamwood, Herts, WD6 1TN.

n SHOPPERS CARE MORE ABOUT ANIMALS THAN CLIMATE The Co-op has conducted what they claim is the biggest poll of consumer ethics ever undertaken and found that animal welfare and fair trade are far bigger concerns to UK consumers than climate change.

The supermarket group analysed responses to a detailed four-page questionnaire from more than 100,000 members and customers. Only 4% rated climate change as their top ethical priority compared with 21% who thought that animal welfare was the most important issue and 14% who rated fair trade as their key concern.

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n LONG-DISTANCE VEGAN I survived and completed the Paris Marathon, and ran it in a time of 4 hours, 11 minutes and 52 seconds. I was quite pleased with my time, though I did initially aim for a sub 4 hour time when I started my training, but during the race, I slowed down during the second half (I guess if I trained harder in the preceding months, I could have achieved this). This was my 4th marathon, with my previous 3 being: Edinburgh, and Loch Ness (in 2005), and London (in 2006).

n MISS THE CHICKEN! If you are looking for a bit of fun, why not play a game called ‘miss the chicken’? It is played online at www.hiltl.ch/werbung-online_en.php. The object of the game is to shoot as few cartoon chickens as possible.

Thirty shots are fired automatically and you move your mouse or cursor to miss the chickens because every one you hit earns you minus points.

n A NOTE FROM THE FINANCE OFFICER RE: ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

My time for the BUPA Great South Run was: 1:25:36. It was only a 10 mile race, and not a half marathon, like its sister race, the BUPA Great North Run. Through my races, I have raised a few thousand pounds for local and national animal welfare charities, e.g. Cats Protection, and Scottish SPCA. For this one, I raised over £500 for my local Cats Protection Shelter, covering Arbroath and District.

For the rest of the year my targets are: Dunfermline Half Marathon, Glasgow Women’s 10k, Dundee Half Marathon, and the Great Scottish Run 10k in Glasgow.

I run as a hobby, and have recently bought a bike, and am entering some duathlons also. My times are certainly not exceptional, but for a 43 year old female, who stopped participating in regular sport after I left school, I think I do alright. Being on a vegan diet also helps fuel my fitness tremendously, especially in terms of weight control, and generally feeling energised.

Liz Begg

Dear Members who pay by standing order, It is possible that you are paying either too much or too little: Full price of membership is £21.

Low waged (under £8000 per year) is £14.

Add an additional member (same address) for just £7.

You will need to contact your bank directly to amend the amount as we are not able to do this.

Alternatively, if you would like to change to paying

by Direct Debit, please contact me for a form on 0121 523 1732, or by e-mail at: finance@vegansociety.com or by post at the usual address. It is possible to pay monthly or quarterly for membership and don’t forget to gift aid it!

Don’t forget that the revenue from your payments helps to cover the Society’s overheads and running costs. It enables us to attend fairs and exhibitions, to produce information leaflets and ‘The Vegan’ Magazine, as well as to promoting veganism at every given opportunity!

Thank you for your continued support – we couldn’t do it without you!.

Fiona Sylva Finance Officer

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n BRITAIN’S BEST DISH 2008 If you are a keen amateur vegan cook with an original starter, main course or pudding, then why not enter ITV’s Best British Dish competition? You could win £10,000 plus the opportunity to get great publicity for vegan food. Applications must be in before 7 June and phone calls are expensive so we recommend that you e-mail them if possible to bestdish@itv.com.

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WHY VEGAN? YOU’VE SEEN OUR WHY VEGAN? BOOKLET, NOW SEE THE LEAFLET! The Vegan Society has produced a one-page Why Vegan? for members to use when leafleting. These leaflets are cheaper to produce than the booklets and so they can be posted though people’s doors and used in other places where they may or may not be read.

Contact us at info@vegansociety.com or on 0121 523 1735/6 for a free supply.

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VOLUNTEERING AT THE SADHANA FOREST PROJECT IN INDIA Sandra Ellis

Sadhana Forest, Auroville, Tamil Nadu, India – a wonderful place to spend two weeks, two months or two years.

Please come and visit – and perhaps volunteer at – this amazing vegan ecological reforestation project!

I

first heard about Sadhana when it was advertised as a place to visit after the 2007 International Vegan Festival in India. At the time I was looking for a new volunteer project, and having already spent two wonderful years volunteering in Bangalore thought I would try another country for a change. But somehow I kept going back to projects in India and realized I would have to follow my heart and return there.

So, excited by the idea of living in a vegan community, I arrived here at Sadhana on 13 February 2008 and have settled in well, even getting used to starting work at 6.30 am – no easy task for an ‘owl’!

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Sadhana Forest is an amazing reforestation project the aim of which is to restore the very rare Tropical Dry Evergreen Forest (TDEF), of which there is only 0.01% left in the world.

It is endemic to Tamil Nadu and some parts of neighbouring Sri Lanka. The ancient, dense forest was felled mainly by British and French colonists approximately 200 years ago, which left all the topsoil bare and exposed to the elements. The heavy rains during monsoons completely washed away the topsoil and deposited it in the sea – the Bay of Bengal – a few miles away. Subsequent monsoons began eroding the subsoil, creating deep canyons and gullies throughout the land.

In December 2003 Aviram and Yorit Rozin were given stewardship of 70 acres of degraded land at Sadhana, within the boundaries of Auroville, and their primary task was to prevent further erosion and begin a major water-conservation scheme.

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They have been very successful in raising the water table by six metres and to date over 17,700 native trees and shrubs have been planted, with over 95% survival rates – very impressive in such a hot, dry climate.

There are dry composting toilets using fine sawdust and compost heaps for kitchen waste. Aviram also installed two large solar panels to provide electricity, with bicycles to produce power on cloudy or rainy days! Long-term volunteers are especially welcome and after the forest work you might find that your other skills can be used to benefit the forest. Accommodation is free and food is the only thing you pay for – 100 rupees per day, approximately £1.10p. This is very cheap for a wonderful and possibly life-changing experience! Within the past year we have had 408 volunteers from over 35 countries, a great opportunity to make new friends! Please consider volunteering at Sadhana this year or next. Late July to November is the main tree-planting season and all help is most welcome, at any time of the year.

If you cannot visit but would like to support the amazing environmentally important work here, donations are very welcome. The charity is registered in the UK so if you are a UK taxpayer you can make a donation under the Gift Aid scheme, and you can do so safely online via www.aviuk.org.

I am sure you will be inspired by all that Yorit and Aviram have achieved in just a few short years.

So what does a volunteer do? Well, we all share in the planting and watering, water-conservation bunding, cooking and cleaning, and indeed any other tasks that arise.

We start work in the forest at 6.30 am and break at 8.30 for breakfast. From 9.30 to 11.30 the work is mostly in the vegan organic vegetable garden. Tools are usually stored safely away by 12 and lunch is at around 12.30.

After that your time is your own, and there are many diverse activities in nearby Auroville township. About 12 km away from Sadhana there is sunbathing and swimming at the beautiful sandy beach on the east coast, ideal for sun-worshippers. As a professional gardener my primary role is to set up a kitchen garden to enable us to grow more of our own food and so spend less on buying local organic produce. One of the nicest things for me is that many musicians and singers stay here so there is always music: impromptu jamming sessions or songs throughout the day!

Volunteers come for a minimum of two weeks and can stay for as long as they wish! I plan to stay until the end of July and hope to return in the future. We live in thatched huts made of natural local materials and sleep on raised platforms in the huts. Some huts are communal, some for couples or families.

For more information please look up Sadhana Forest on its new website – www.sadhanaforest.org – or for more information on the international township at Auroville – www.auroville.org.

You can also telephone Sadhana for more information on 00 91 413 2902655 or 2677682, but please remember that we are five and a half hours ahead of UK time!

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VEGAN SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2008

The next Annual General Meeting of The Vegan Society will be held on Saturday 22nd November at the Priory Street Centre, 15 Priory St., York YO1 6EZ PROPOSALS FOR RESOLUTION Proposals for resolution, to be considered by Council for inclusion on the AGM Agenda, must be received at the Society’s office (The Vegan Society, Donald Watson House, 21 Hylton Street, Hockley, Birmingham, B18 6HJ) not later than Friday 25th July.

For your guidance Ordinary Proposals should: n be proposed and seconded by paid-up full (not supporter) members n in the interests of economy and clarity, not exceed 200 words, including any supporting material n propose some form of action n propose one single action i.e. they must not be composite proposals n not simply comprise a statement of opinion n Members considering submitting Special Proposals (those seeking to change the Memorandum or Articles of Association) are advised to contact the Company Secretary (Nigel Winter) or the Chair (George Rodger) c/o the Society’s office. Special Proposals must not exceed 200 words. n Proposers are requested to limit their proposals to two.

NOMINATIONS FOR COUNCIL The Vegan Society needs high calibre individuals on its Council of Trustees. Being a Trustee is a practical unpaid post, and requires skill and ability to be effective. Trustees are ultimately responsible for the charity, and are also directors of the Vegan Society as a limited company.

Each candidate must: n have been a full (not supporter) member of the Society for 12 months or longer (as at 22nd November 2008) n not be disqualified under company or charity law from being a trustee/director n submit a written nomination duly signed by a proposer and seconder who are paid-up full members n submit a profile of him/herself stating in 100-200 words his/her full name (and any previous names), skills, experience, views and intentions if elected.

Candidacy is open to all members of the Society meeting the criteria outlined above. Members with relevant professional skills and qualifications are particularly invited to consider nomination.

Essential Trustee qualities are a co-operative and teamspirited work ethic, an understanding of good governance (see governancehub.org.uk and www.charitycommission. gov.uk/publications/cc60.asp) and a strategic way of thinking to advance veganism.

Ideal attributes that Council will find helpful to move the Society and veganism forward include any of the following: business acumen (in particular project management and business planning), campaigning strategy, financial skills (including accounting and bookkeeping skills), fund-raising, charity law, journalism, TV or radio production, medicine, applied or clinical psychology and human resources expertise.

Having time to give is a key factor with up to 12 meetings a year and time between to contribute to governance and strategy via email/post/telephone.

Candidates need a clear understanding of the difference between the role of staff and trustees. Being a Trustee is about stepping back and nurturing an environment in which staff and volunteers can get on and fulfill the Society’s strategy effectively.

A Council of Trustees is there to provide oversight, policy and strategy.

Past minutes of Council meetings can be read here: http://www.vegansociety.com/forum/ You will need to register to access the minutes.

We look forward to your applications for standing for election.

Please attempt to address the above needs of Council that are relevant to your abilities in your personal statements, as well as giving a glimpse of your personal vision for the future of promoting veganism.

If you feel your skills are more directly suited to practical veganising activities, please instead volunteer to staff to help them.

Nominations to The Vegan Society, Donald Watson House, 21 Hylton Street, Hockley, Birmingham, B18 6HJ not later than Friday 25th July.

For further details, ask for a ‘Prospective Candidates Nomination Pack’ by sending an A5 SAE marked ‘PCNP’ to: Council Elections, The Vegan Society, Donald Watson House, 21 Hylton Street, Hockley, Birmingham, B18 6HJ or by emailing info@vegansociety.com

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SHOW ME THE WAY TO

VEGATOPIA! Dr Matthew Cole & Dr Karen Morgan

Matthew Cole and Karen Morgan discuss ‘promoting ethical veganism through academic research and teaching’ on their new website – www.vegatopia.org.

If we have an ethical commitment to veganism we have a responsibility to attempt to extend its reach, to encourage others to help us along the way. It is the potential for extending our sense of compassion, without limit, towards all human and non-human animals that is distinctive about ethical veganism.

Whichever of the various arguments for going or staying vegan motivates our decision, it is the moral value of

Why is veganism utopian?

Many, perhaps all, vegans have at some time or other daydreamed about living in a vegan world, a utopia free of cruelty, liberated from violent and bloody traditions. A vegan utopia, or ‘vegatopia’, would be a world in which compassion was extended to all human and non-human animals. It would also be a world in which our energies could be directed towards increasing the sum of human and non-human animal enjoyment and pleasure instead of trying to hold back the tidal wave of torture and killing inherent in the mechanized i

meat and dairy industry . The scale of this task is daunting but also inspiring.

It reminds us that veganism is utopian in the sense that it challenges the existing social order and has the potential to transform the way humans relate to non-human animals as well as transforming our shared environment.

Ethical veganism and compassion The decision to become and remain a dietary vegan is undoubtedly morally significant in itself and contributes to reducing the sum of real and potential suffering in the world.

But if it remains a largely private and

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compassion that is central. But compassion

“As vegans

ought not to be confused with sentimentalism, because compassion

working within

makes demands on us to act, to work

academia we feel a

non-human and human animal suffering.

responsibility to use

a more compassionate future if we are

these opportunities

and emotional work that compassion

to further the case for ethical veganism.

for as great as possible a reduction in We are in a poor position to argue for not prepared to put in the practical demands.

Why we created vegatopia Our new web resource for the academic

The website is

study of veganism, www.vegatopia.org,

therefore an

responsibility to work to oppose sources

extension of our existing commitment to promoting ethical veganism through research and teaching.”

is therefore inspired by a sense of of violence against and exploitation of all animals. Our positions as professional sociologists working in universities grant us access to information and research opportunities and allow us to engage with students and colleagues. As vegans working within academia we feel a responsibility to use these opportunities to further the case for ethical veganism. The website is therefore an extension of our existing commitment to promoting ethical veganism through research and teaching. We hope that the website will encourage and inspire other vegans

individual matter it can take us only

working in academia, whether students,

some of the way towards vegatopia.

lecturers or research staff, to join us.

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We also hope that the website can

philosophical and spiritual arguments

become a valuable source of

against eating animal products,

information for vegan organizations

lifestyle guides to being vegan and

and for individuals wanting to find

much more besides. We also have

out more about veganism.

an archive of media resources,

“Subjects covered include activist

lectures and conference papers on What does vegatopia offer?

literature,

veganism and run a research forum where we invite discussion of ideas

At the core of the site is a huge

for future academic work on

bibliography on all things vegan.

researching and promoting ethical

We recently completed work on

veganism. As part of our belief in

cataloguing the library of The Vegan

the importance of connecting

Society at Donald Watson House, and

academia with the wider community

as a result of this being combined with

the website also archives public

material gleaned from our own

statements on vegan issues, for

research over the years the website

instance letters to editors in response

already contains categorized academic

to relevant press reports, and provides

references to more than 1000 sources

links to other organizations promoting

relevant to veganism. Subjects covered

veganism. We very much encourage

include activist literature, sociological

active participation in vegatopia and

and psychological studies of vegans,

welcome contributions, suggestions

nutritional studies, cookery books,

and (constructive!) criticisms.

sociological and psychological studies of vegans, nutritional studies, cookery books, philosophical and spiritual arguments against eating animal products, lifestyle guides to being vegan and much more besides.�

We hope that raising the profile of veganism in and through academia can move us all a little closer to the utopian vision of a compassionate vegan world.

For more information log on to www.vegatopia.org or contact Matthew and Karen at matthew.cole@vegatopia.org and karen.morgan@vegatopia.org. i

As Peter Singer puts it in Animal Liberation (1974), consideration of the interests of human or non-human others includes their interests in pursuing pleasure as well as avoiding pain.

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RECIPES Helen Edwards

ASPARAGUS BRUSCHETTA Serves 4 A rich white sauce and delicate asparagus on crusty bread, perfect as an appetizer or light supper.

250ml soya milk 1 small white onion, peeled and halved 1 bay leaf 25g vegan margarine 25g plain white flour 1 tsp mustard powder 2 tsp white wine vinegar 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped 12 slices crusty baguette, sliced and toasted 36 medium asparagus spears, steamed until tender Place the onion and bay leaf in a saucepan with the milk, and heat.

Leave to stand for 5 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse the milk. Remove the bay leaf and the onion and discard. Set the milk aside while you make the roux.

OKRA AND BABY CORN SOUP Serves 2 This light soup is naturally thickened by the okra.

1 tsp olive oil 1 small red onion, finely sliced 4 slices fresh ginger root 2 cloves garlic, finely sliced 400ml vegetable stock 40g (3 cobs) baby corn, thinly sliced 25g (3 fingers) okra, thinly sliced

For the roux, melt the margarine in another saucepan. Add the flour and stir well with a wooden spoon until the mixture is the consistency of wet sand.

Gradually add the soya milk in small amounts, stirring well with each addition to ensure a smooth consistency.

Continue to cook, stirring until the sauce thickens.

Mix the mustard powder and vinegar together until smooth.

Add to the white sauce with the parsley and stir to mix.

Spread the sauce on the warm toast (1-2 tbsp per slice).

20g Fresh or frozen peas Arrange three spears of asparagus on each slice of the toast.

Place the oil in a saucepan. When hot, add the onions and ginger and cook over a low heat, stirring continuously, for 2 minutes.

Add the garlic and cook for a further 30 seconds.

Add the stock, the baby corn and the okra.

Bring to the boil and simmer for 6 minutes.

Add the peas, return to the boil and simmer for 3 minutes.

Serve immediately.

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Serve immediately.

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GRIDDLED PAPAYA WITH LIME CREAM Serves 4 You can prepare the lime cream the day before to make this a quick dessert to prepare for a dinner party.

2 limes water as required 30g granulated sugar 120g firm silken tofu 20g dark chocolate 2 tsp water 1 medium ripe papaya 4 tsp icing sugar

Cut the limes in half. Carefully squeeze the juice from the limes, reserving the peel for later. Place the juice in a small saucepan, making up the volume to 30ml (2 tbsp) with water if necessary. Add the sugar and bring to the boil. Simmer until the sugar has dissolved and the syrup has thickened slightly.

Allow to cool.

Blend the silken tofu with a stick blender until completely smooth.

Add the lime syrup to the tofu and mix well. Place in the fridge to chill.

Melt the chocolate and the water in a small saucepan over a very low heat, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

Pipe or drizzle the chocolate sauce over 4 serving plates.

Cut the papaya in half vertically and then cut each half into 4 wedges. Remove the seeds and discard.

Rub half a teaspoon of icing sugar onto the cut surfaces of each of the 8 papaya wedges.

Place the wedges onto a hot non-stick griddle (or frying pan) and cook for 2 minutes on each cut side.

Remove any remaining flesh and pith from the inside of the lime peel halves, using a grapefruit knife or small sharp vegetable knife.

Arrange 2 papaya wedges on each plate, with the chocolate sauce, and add a cream-filled lime half.

Fill the lime halves with the lime tofu cream.

Serve immediately.

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SHOPAROUND Verity Hunt-Sheppard

n TISSERAND

n MUNCHY SEEDS Munchy Seeds are deliciously nutritious mixes of dry roasted sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, available in seven varieties.

They can be eaten straight from the pack as a healthy snack or used as a delicious addition to almost any dish.

Naturally packed with goodness including Omega 3, 6 and 9, Munchy Seeds are free from artificial colourings and preservatives and are available in 40g snack packs as well as a range of tubs.

Tisserand’s range of products contains therapeutic essential oil blends. Choose from their gorgeous range of bath soaks, hand and body lotions, skin-kind deodorants, soaps, perfumes, body oils and skin treatments. You’ll find everything you need to care for your body from tip to toe. Treat yourself to their new wild rose and lemon leaf range for beautifully scented summer

For more details visit www.munchyseeds.co.uk or telephone 01728 833004.

n TRUELOVE ORGANICS Fall in love with Truelove Organics’ incredible organic raw chocolate: you will never believe that it’s sugar free! It’s made from luscious raw ingredients such as cacao powder, cacao butter, agave nectar, maca and gogi berries. Choose from boxed chocolates, solid chocolate hearts and petit fours available in plain, orange, mint, goji, fruit & nut, goji & orange, goji & plain, coconut, and lemon.

Giveaway To win a box of these luscious treats simply send a postcard with the words ‘Truelove Organics’ written on it to the Vegan Society by the 30 June.

And if that wasn’t generous enough the folks at Truelove Organics are also offering a 10% discount on any chocolates purchased before 30 June.

Just enter the discount code VEGAN 001 when ordering through the website.

For more details visit www.trueloveorganics.com or telephone 0870 919 4237.

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skin.

Discount

Tisserand is offering a 15% discount on all webshop orders until 30 June. Simply enter the code ZGQK5G at the checkout when you order. You can place as many orders as you like until 30 June and still receive the same discount!

For more details visit www.tisserand.com or telephone 01273 325666.

n RAW MAGIC! Kate Wood of Raw Living is the magic behind the brand-new book Raw Magic: Recipes for the Revolution. You can purchase copies from the lovely Shazzie at Detox Your World. Raw Magic is packed with 160 recipes including Many Ways Mayonnaise, Super Sexy Curry, Call The Police Pudding and It Just Gets Better Biscuits.

The book is filled with stunning full-colour photos for you to drool over too!

For more details visit www.rawliving.eu or contact Detox Your World at www.detoxyourworld.com or 0870 011 3119.

Five lucky winners will receive a signed copy of Raw Magic. Send a postcard with the words ‘Raw Magic Competition’ on it to the Vegan Society office. (N.B. Some recipes in Raw Magic contain bee products which can be substituted.)

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All Shoparound products have been authenticated as

n EARTH & WEAR LTD

n FRY’S

Earth and Wear’s No Sweat range is made in Indonesia by workers who are all members of trade unions.

Their funky footwear is 100% vegan while their hand-dyed hemp hi-tops are made from 100% organic hemp. Available in 17 different colours, these gorgeous hemp boots are just the ticket for summer.

Discount Earth and Wear are offering a 10% discount for readers: just use the promotional code VGN058 on their web shop or quote it if you phone them.

Fry’s have extended their fantastic range of meat-free goods. Their Veg Express sausage rolls consist of a braai country herb sausage with wholegrain mustard encased in a light, crispy puff pastry while Fry’s Veg Express cottage pies consist of Fry’s veggie mince, gravy, fresh peas and carrots, all topped with creamy mashed potato.

Fry’s products are free from nuts, genetically modified ingredients, cholesterol, hydrogenated fats, artificial flavours, colours and preservatives.

Fry’s Veg Express sausage rolls are £2.99 for a box of four and Vegan Express cottage pies are £2.99.

For more details visit www.beanieshealthfoods.co.uk or telephone 01489 574593.

For more details visit www.earthandwear.com or telephone 0845 257 5725.

n FREERANGERS n BATEMAN’S BREWERY With the warm weather here it’s time to kick off your shoes, pull up a chair and sit back with a nice bottle of beer.

Bateman’s Brewery has just added four new ales to their selection of vegan beers which already includes Dark Lord, Rosey Nosey and Summer Swallow.

Now you can sup on XB English Ale, Golden Ale, India Pale Ale and Treble X Ale too. Bottoms up!

For more details visit www.bateman.co.uk or telephone 01754 880317.

It’s all happening at Freerangers: their brand-new Rosie Shoe is sure to draw attention for all the right reasons.

Covered in a pretty rosebud print, these slip-on shoes feature a padded insole and a flexible shock-absorbing sole – a real treat for your feet.

The Rosie Shoe costs £74 + p&p.

If you feel your skin has faded away beneath your winter layers you can now give it a golden glow with Freerangers new Self Tan Lotion.

Just use a small amount on a regular basis to build up your preferred summer shade.

Self Tan Lotion is £14 + p&p.

For more details visit www.freerangers.co.uk or telephone 01207 565957.

Giveaway Freerangers has a bottle of Self Tan Lotion to give away to the first two people to write in. Mark your entries ‘Vegan Magazine Competition Entry’ and send them to Freerangers, 87 Derwent Street, Chopwell, Tyne & Wear, NE17 7HZ.

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SHOPAROUND Verity Hunt-Sheppard

n SKIN BLOSSOM

n PENNANGALAN

Skin Blossom is a new organic skincare company which believes that everyone is entitled to beautiful, healthy skin. Give your mitts the pampering they deserve with Skin Blossom’s Care and Protect hand cream. This easily absorbed cream contains plant oils, shea butter and rose geranium to soothe and nourish dry hands.

Skin Blossom Care and Protect hand cream is £5.25 for 60ml.

If you’re looking for some far-out funky footwear then Pennangalan is right up your street. You’ll find platform, minx, gladiator, commando, flare, corset, ramp and fetish boots.

For more details visit www.skinblossom.co.uk or telephone 0208 332 7622.

n MOONCUP Mooncup has been rated ‘Best Buy’ of all sanitary products, including tampons, disposable and washable pads and other menstrual cups, by the Ethical Consumer magazine.

Mooncup is a medical-grade silicone reusable menstrual cup distributed in over 30 countries worldwide. With proper care one Mooncup will last for up to ten years, drastically reducing landfill. It’s available from health-food shops and some branches of Boots.

For more details visit www.mooncup.co.uk or telephone 01273 673845.

Pennangalan also stocks other brands of vegan footwear such as Mad Fish boots and shoes. For more details visit www.pennangalan.co.uk or telephone 01753-678076.

Pennangalan is giving away a free pair of its vegan boots and you get to choose the style and size. Send a postcard to the Vegan Society office marked ‘Pennangalan Competition’.

Discount If that wasn’t generous enough you can get a 10% discount on Pennangalan purchases through its web shop until 30 June. You will need to enter the discount code VeganSoc which will show on your final bill.

n FOREST SECRET SKINCARE Need a beauty boost?

Forest Secret Skincare new iRejuvenate 2-step programme should do the trick. Step one is the Lifting Pro-Youth Face Oil which contains lupin seed extract, organic argan oil and organic rosehip. Step 2 is the Regenerating Skin Serum which contains organic aloe vera gel, chlorella peptides and aguns castus extract. iRejuvenate Step 1, Lifting Pro-Youth Face oil and iRejuvenate Step 2 Regenerating Skin Serum cost £36 each.

For more details visit www.forestsecretsskincare.com or telephone 0208 242 4746.

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CURIOUS VEGETABLES: SPINACH Bill Laws

When the American cartoonist Elzie Segar cast around for a character to woo his newly-created Olive Oyl he came up with Popeye the Sailor Man, famous ever afterwards for being ‘strong to the finich, ‘cos I eat me spinach.’

The Arabs, who named it isfanakh, almost certainly carried it into Europe when they crossed the Straits of Gibraltar into Spain.

Perhaps it was here that the Crusaders first found the plant and brought the seed back to these shores.

Popeye preferred his spinach in the can. I would rather lightly sizzle the leaves in a saucepan with no more water than the leaves were washed in or, better still, eat it fresh and raw in a mixed salad.

In the Middle East spinach grew as a tall, spiny plant not unlike a lettuce that had bolted and was running to seed. Under its new northern climate spinach thrived, growing into the rich and succulent vegetable we know today.

Spinach lost many of its friends when it was served as recommended by this 1930s Illustrated Garden Encyclopaedia: “The leaves are gathered, boiled and passed through a sieve before serving.”

That’s a terrible fate to befall what the Persians (who grew it first) described as the ‘prince of vegetables’.

Is it any good for you? Did it make Popeye strong?

Spinach is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, both antioxidants that help combat free radicals, the molecules that can be especially damaging to the proteins in the lens of the human eye. If it did nothing else for Popeye it helped his eyesight.

Bill Laws is the author of Spade, Skirret and Parsnip – The Curious History of Vegetables (Sutton Publishing).

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GROW VEGAN Ita West

FLOWER POWER IDEAS

F

rom the front door of my cottage in County Limerick I look onto a flowerbed 10m in length and 2m deep backed by a south-facing stone wall just over 1m high. There’s a little corner in my heart where I store a huge amount of affection for this flowerbed because in the first place weeds never thrive in it – it’s too full for them to attempt to take over – and secondly and most importantly almost every plant in it was free.

Even if you can’t obtain free plants you can use my ideas to design your own beds. Remember that every flower under the sun can be grown without animal inputs or chemicals!

Add a little seaweed meal to your flowerbeds in early spring as a soil conditioner.

What’s in this bed? There are two spiraea Snowmound and two cotoneaster that give the bed height and structure and clothe the wall to a certain extent.

When covered in its millions of tiny white flowers the Snowmound is a pure pleasure to look at. Columbine Grannies’ Bonnets and Petticoats dominate the bed from late April to the end of May. These were raised from seeds given by a friend and have now set seed themselves elsewhere. There are two hardy geraniums Johnson Blue and Wargrave Pink, both obtained as cuttings from an old friend now passed away. When they appear in early April they are a living memory to her.

Alchemilla vulgaris or lady’s mantle – where would we be without it? It seeds itself here, there and everywhere. I dig up the small plants when they’re about two years old and transfer them to other beds.

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Grow Vegan Puzzler Name a variety of geranium Send your answers on a postcard to: The Vegan Society (address details on page 1) by 16th June 2008.

The winner will receive a copy of Plants for a Future by Ken Fern.

Answer to the Spring Grow Vegan Puzzler was: Berlicum (carrot) Winner: Justine Bourne from Hove

The folklore says that the drop of dew in the centre of the leaf is magic, and of course the plant itself is a much-used herb. When a friend turned up with a cutting it reminded me of the first house at which I’d grown lady’s mantle. At that time I didn’t know the plant at all and spent the next summer waiting for the pale-green fronds to develop into flowers: only when it had all died back in the autumn did I realize that the delicate frothy bit sticking up was the flower.

It really is impressive in large clumps but don’t be disappointed with the flower – just accept it.

The majestic leaves of montbretia stand unadorned at the back of the bed until the spiral of orange flowers starts to make an appearance. Sitting in a pot to see if it will thrive is a peony that I recently received as a birthday present.

Nasturtiums appear in the gravel in front of the bed and climb through everything else. Their variegated and unvariegated leaves and bright red and yellow flowers set off the bed until the first frost comes and makes a mush of them.

I hate clearing that up but they come every year for free. Last year I ate one of the seeds, something you want to experience only once in a lifetime.

The Michaelmas daisies, a cutting that I could not refuse, grow up through last year’s cut-back woody stems. They look all pale and green and delicate until they grow so tall that I have to stake them, and their purple flowers will be the last ones in the bed until the snowdrops appear next winter.

Looking back on what I’ve written I can see why this bed is no problem: every bit of bare earth is covered, there are no annuals that create gaps in the spring and nothing in it is ever bothered by slugs, although I do spend a lot of time picking snails off the Snowmound. They don’t seem to do any damage; perhaps they just like climbing it.

Joining Vegan-Organic Network is an excellent move for the vegan-organic gardener. The twice-yearly magazine and how-to-do-it advice sheets are packed with helpful information.

Remember there is a world of difference between vegan-organic (stockfree) and conventional organic. Support VON and help get real vegan-grown food in the shops.

Contact VON 80 Annable Rd Lower Bredbury Stockport SK6 2DF. 0845 223 5232 (BT local rate, 10am to 8pm) or info@veganorganic.net.

Visit the VON website and join online at www.veganorganic.net.

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The Vegan Vegan ll Summer Summer 2008 2008 The

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PRISON CATERING AWARDS For the Ongoing Excellent Overall Care of Vegans by ensuring equal opportunities in both their dietary and prison shop requirements: HMP Lowdham Grange (Catering Manager Graeme Mann) For providing nutritious and varied vegan foods and helping to ensure that prisoners’ vegan prison shop purchases were met via Suma.

For their Excellent Overall Care of Vegans by ensuring equal opportunities in both their dietary and prison shop requirements:

The Vegan Society in partnership with the Vegan Prisoners Support

HMP Winchester (Head of Catering/Canteen Services Sandy Powell and Catering Manager Willy Sheekey and team) Winchester were nominated by a prisoner who said, “Winchester have done an excellent job of providing vegan meals in a nutritional and imaginative way.”

Group (VPSG) gave out the 2007 prison awards on March 12th and 13th at a prison catering workshop. The standard of nominated prisons

For the Ongoing Excellent Care of Vegan Prisoners: HMP Bronzefield (Catering Manager Jamie Gibson) Jamie Gibson won an award for the care of vegans in 2006 and his standard remains high. Two prisoners nominated him to receive another award this year.

was high, making the decision a difficult one.

For their Excellent Catering for Vegan Prisoners:

After hours of deliberation,

HMP Onley (Sarah Brown and Holly Hill)

the following prisons were given awards:

A prisoner nominated them for an award.

He felt that every effort was made to ensure he was given equal opportunities.

.For their Ongoing Excellent Catering for Vegan Prisoners: HMP Downview (P/O Caterer Everton Cummings and team) Everton Cummins won an award for the care of vegans in 2006 and his standard remains high. He is always available to listen to vegan suggestions, to show inmates round the kitchen and to show them the products he uses. One prisoner said the vegan food was the best she had come across in prison.

For their Excellent Catering for Vegan Prisoners: HMP North Sea Camp (Catering Manager Bob Betts and team) A vegan prisoner nominated this prison for all their efforts in ensuring equal opportunities.

He said, “The food here is superb and I can’t fault them in any way whatsoever.”

For their Ongoing Excellent Care of Vegan Prisoners: Isle of Wight Prisons (David Clough Head of Catering and staff) David Clough and his team have over 100 vegans to cater for at three prisons and their standard remains high. In fact they have also recently won a four-star prison service rating which they fully deserve. They work closely with prisoners to meet their needs.

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Reviews MAKING A KILLING: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF ANIMAL RIGHTS

by Bob Torres Published by AK Press Cover price $11.00 ISBN number 978-1904859673 Reviewed by Sandrine Revert Bob Torres, an American professor of sociology and a vegan, analyses the deeply rooted prejudices that make humans treat animals as commodities. Drawing from various ideological schools of thought such as Marxist political economy and social anarchism, which he has himself embraced, he explains that because of capitalist society, which values property and commodities, social relations are structured on hierarchy, domination, oppression and exploitation of the weakest. As such, animals, which are legally acknowledged as nothing more than property, become “superexploited living commodities” whose lives have only monetary value. Without restructuring our social relationships to one another we cannot respect nature, of which animals are a part.

Torres points out various problems within today’s animal rights’ movement. He questions Peter Singer’s contribution to animal rights and condemns the violence used by the ALF and the consumerist attitude of groups such as PETA. Drawing extensively on the work of anarchist thinker Murray Bookchin, Bob Torres urges the reader to challenge hierarchy, domination and oppression of both humans and non-humans. He advises the reader to embrace social anarchism and veganism in order to embody the change we want to see in the world and, in order to be more efficient, to form what he calls affinity groups and educate the public in order to recreate a society based on freedom, creativity and cooperation.

This is an inspiring book and food for thought and action for any animal rights’ activists out there and anyone willing to challenge the order of things.

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STRIKING AT THE ROOTS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO ANIMAL ACTIVISM

by Mark Hawthorne Foreword by Bruce Friedrich Published by O Books RRP £9.99 280 pages Reviewed by Ray Dann This book is not just a guide to activism as the title may suggest: it offers some background on the issues of concern to the animal rights’ movement and notes successful campaigns in various countries across the world. It also tells the stories of various people and how they were originally brought into the animal advocacy community, some of them starting off quite unwilling to acknowledge that non-human animals are sentient.

This offers an insight into just how effective the various forms of activism (letter-writing, leafleting, demonstrations, food as outreach, sanctuaries etc.) can be and more importantly why they may be successful.

The book is divided into eleven chapters, each dedicated to the discussion of a specific form of activism. The most effective ways of carrying out the tactics and their suitability for different causes and different people are dissected. At the end of each chapter is a summary and list of useful resources and contacts.

Striking at the Roots is easy to read for both seasoned campaigners and newcomers to the animal rights’ movement and is useful to anyone interested in animal advocacy because of its democratic approach to the subject.

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THE ASIAN VEGAN KITCHEN

by Hema Parekh Published by Kondansha International Ltd ISBN 978-4-7700-3069-6 Price £10.99 Reviewed by Clare Persey This beautifully illustrated book features recipes from across Asia including Japan, India and Korea, each country having a special section in the book. Author Hema Parekh, who has been teaching Asian cooking for almost two decades, takes traditional recipes that have been enjoyed for years and tweaks them so that they are suitable for vegans.

The results of Hema’s innovation are highlighted with over forty full-colour photos in the middle of the book: the dishes look appetizing and delicious. With such fare as tofu teriyaki steak, chow mein, tempura, poori, sushi, spring rolls, green curry and wontons, the book offers the opportunity to learn some exciting Asian cuisine.

The recipes are described as simple to make and while the method for each dish tends to be reasonable many have a long list of ingredients which could be off-putting, so be prepared for drawn-out shopping lists in an otherwise tempting book.

MEMBERSHIP / RENEWAL

I wish to become a member and support the work of the Vegan Society.

I wish to renew my membership.

Membership No. (if known)......................................................................

Name:................................................................................Address:..........................................................................................

Postcode:........................................Tel:..........................................................Email:..................................................................

Date of Birth: (for security purposes)........../.........../..........Occupation:.....................................................................................

Please tick this box if you are a dietary Vegan. This entitles you to voting rights in the Society’s elections if aged 18+.

Please treat my membership subscription as Gift Aid. I have paid UK income or capital gains tax equal to the amount the Society reclaims.

My income is less than £8000 per year and I qualify for the low income discount of 33%.*

A copy of the Society’s rules (Memo & Articles of Association) can be viewed on our website or at our office. Alternatively you may buy

I wish to enrol other members of my household for an additional £7 each.**

a copy for £5.

Please give full names of additional members and specify if dietary vegan and / or under 18. (If more than four additional members please attach separate sheet.)

Membership Individual £21 * Less £7 low-income deduction (if applicable) ** Add £7 per additional household member Under 18 years old £7 Memo & Articles of Association £5 Overseas: Europe +£5 / Rest of World +£7 Payment may be made by credit card, sterling International money order or sterling cheque drawn on a British bank.

Donation Total:

21

How to pay Cheque / PO payable to The Vegan Society Credit / Debit card (enter details below) Direct Debit (phone for details) Website: www.vegansociety.com Please debit my Visa / Mastercard Access / Visa Delta / Connect / Switch Solo card number

ccccccccccccccccccc Name on card:.........................................................................Signature:..................................................................

Today’s date........./........./.......Start date:......../........Expiry date......../........Switch Issue No.:.....................

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events

Updated diaries and events information can be viewed at www.vegansociety.com

n MAY

n SEPTEMBER

Bristol Vegan Fayre (organized by Yaoh)

London Vegan Festival

Saturday 31 May and Sunday 1 June, 11am to 9pm

Sunday 7 September

The Bristol Vegan Fayre enters its sixth year – live bands, talks and stalls in

Kensington Town Hall, Horton Street, London W8

the centre of Bristol as thousands of people come together to celebrate

90 stalls, speakers, music, entertainment, vegan food, workshops and

the best of the vegan lifestyle www.yaoh.co.uk

good vibes! Tel. 0208 670 9585, www.vegancampaigns.org.uk/festival

n JUNE

The Incredible Veggie Roadshow Saturday 27 September, 10.30am to 4.30pm Portsmouth Guildhall, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, PO1 2AB

Redditch Green Fair (organized by the Redditch Alliance of Greens) Saturday 7 June, 10.30am to 3pm Redditch town centre The 3rd annual independent green fair in Redditch will promote sustainable eco-friendly living by bringing together a range of `green` companies, campaign groups and organizations. Includes a free vegan food sample stall by Redditch Veggies & Vegans, a Viva stall and a Vegan Society stall. Tel. 01527 458395, www.redditchgreenfair.org.uk

FREE entry Food tastings, cookery demonstrations, talks, free diet and health advice, stalls, competitions, beauty products, books, vegan food products, information and campaign news

n OCTOBER World Animal Day Saturday 4 October

n JULY

www.worldanimalday.org.uk

The Incredible Veggie Roadshow (organized by Viva!)

n NOVEMBER

Saturday 5 July, 10:30am to 4:30pm The Council House, Old Market Square, Nottingham, NG1 2DT

World Vegan Day

Food tastings, cookery demonstrations, talks, free diet and health

1 November

advice, stalls, beauty products, information and campaign news,

www.worldveganday.org

competitions and more.

E-mail info@viva.org.uk, tel. 0117 944 1000, www.viva.org.uk

West Midlands Vegan Festival (organized by Midlands Vegan Campaigns)

38th International Vegetarian Union World Vegetarian Congress

Saturday 1 November, 11am to 5pm

Sunday 27 July to Sunday 3 August

Wolves Civic, North St, Wolverhampton, WV1 IRG

Kulturpalast, Dresden (Germany)

Celebrate World Vegan Day in style: 40+ stalls, food, speakers, films, a

Special centenary event 100 Years of Food Revolution, jointly organized by the International Vegetarian Union (IVU) and the Vegetarier-Bund Deutschlands e.V. (VEBU) Tel. (UK) 0207 928 7459, e-mail europa@ivu.org, www.ivu.org/congress/2008

cookery demo, information, campaign news and lots more. Tel. 01527 458395, www.midlandsveganfestival.org.uk, mvc94@yahoo.co.uk Vegan Society AGM (for Vegan Society members only) Saturday 22 November The Priory Street Centre, 15 Priory St, York, YO1 6EZ Food from Veggies will be available on arrival and throughout the day.

n AUGUST

Tel. 0121 523 1730, e-mail: info@vegansociety.com

Vegan Camp Saturday 2 August to Saturday 16 August

n DECEMBER

On the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and close to the Forest

East Midlands Vegan Festival

of Bowland, North Yorkshire The 28th vegan camp, 600-1100 visitors over two weeks, programme of

Saturday 13 December, 11am to 5pm

voluntary activities, camp on-site or visit during the day

The festival features vegan food, clothing, toiletries, cosmetics, gift and

E-mail

www.vegancamp.co.uk

The Council House, Old Market Square, Nottingham, NG1 2DT campaign stalls and live music. www.eastmidlandsveganfestival.co.uk

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VEGAN SOCIETY LOCAL CON THE VEGAN SOCIETY LOCAL CONTACTS Local Contacts are Vegan Society members who act voluntarily as a point of contact for those interested in the Society’s work. They are not official representatives of the Society and their levels of activity and knowledge vary according to their individual circumstances.

Some Local Contacts run groups, in which case details are below their names. Groups not run by Local Contacts and non-geographic groups are listed separately and Youth Contacts are listed on p. 29.

For details of group activities please check the website or get in touch with the Contact.

Veg*ans = vegetarians & vegans.

When writing to a Contact please enclose a sae.

If you’ve been a full member of the Society for at least six months and would like to be a Local Contact please get in touch with the Coordinator, Patricia Tricker (see under Yorkshire, no phone calls before 8 pm please).

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ONTACTS & GROUPS

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LISTINGS PATRONS Freya Dinshah Maneka Gandhi Rebecca Hall Dr Michael Klaper Moby Gordon Newman Cor Nouws Wendy Turner-Webster Benjamin Zephaniah COUNCIL Vanessa Clarke (International Coordinator) Graham Neale (Vice Chair) George Rodger (Chair) Jagdeesh Singh Subra Sivarajah Patricia Tricker (Local Contacts Coordinator) Stephen Walsh (Treasurer) STAFF Chief Executive Officer Nigel Winter Head of Marketing & IT Dave Palmer Head of Information Services Rosamund Raha Information Officers Verity Hunt-Sheppard Clare Persey Business Development Officer Colm McBriarty Trademark Assistant Sandrine Revert Office Manager / Finance Officer Fiona Sylva Education Officer Rob Jackson PR/Media Officer Amanda Baker Sales Assistant Paul Xuereb Volunteers Philippa Lennox Dean Bracher Robert Emberson Row Katt Wendy Atwood Lenka Pagan John Davis

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VEGANISM may be defined as a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose. In dietary terms it refers to the practice of dispensing with all animal produce — including meat, fish, poultry, eggs, animal milks, honey, and their derivatives.

Abhorrence of the cruel practices inherent in an agricultural system based on the abuse of animals is probably the single most common reason for the adoption of veganism, but many people are drawn to it for health, ecological, resource, spiritual and other reasons.

If you would like more information on veganism a free Information Pack is available from the Vegan Society.

THE VEGAN SOCIETY was formed in England in November 1944 by a group of vegetarians who had recognised the ethical compromises implicit in lacto-vegetarianism (ie dairy dependent). Today, the Society continues to highlight the breaking of the strong maternal bond between the cow and her new-born calf within just four days; the dairy cow’s proneness to lameness and mastitis; her subjection to an intensive cycle of pregnancy and lactation; our unnatural and unhealthy taste for cows’ milk; and the de-oxygenation of river water through contamination with cattle slurry.

If you are already a vegan or vegan sympathiser, please support the Society and help increase its influence by joining. Increased membership means more resources to educate and inform.

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CLASSIFIEDS (UK) HOLIDAYS CORNWALL

HAMPSHIRE NEW FOREST - The Barn Vegan/Vegetarian Guest House. En Suite rooms, evening meals. Perfect for walking/cycling etc 023 8029 2531 or www.veggiebarn.net

ISLE OF WIGHT

SUSSEX

Award-winning organic vegan & vegetarian B&B in Lostwithiel, Cornwall.

Please contact Julie Tamblin on www.learnenglishincornwall.co.uk

CUMBRIA

LANCASHIRE CRAZI-CARROTS. De-tox, relax or learn a skill in Lancashire.

Healthy, creative & vegan weekends.

Yoga, massage or just relax.

Ensuite & comfortable B&B. Tel. 01204 704600 admin@wellbeingworkshopsworldwide.com

YORKSHIRE WHITBYB&B FALCON GUESTHOUSE. Vegan/vegetarian Quiet location, seven minutesí walk from centre and harbour.

Lounge and sunny breakfast room.

Teamaking facilities. No smoking throughout. Ample breakfast, with organic fare. £20 p.p.p.n. (for couple).

Tel 01947 603507

WALES

HOLIDAYS ABROAD DEVON Alpujarras - Andalucia Attractive, well equipped townhouse. Sunny roof terrace.

Wonderful views, birds, walks, mountain villages. Wholefood shops, Restaurants serving veggie food. Sleeps 2-6. (10% discount for Vegan supporters) 01736 753555 Email:

SCOTLAND

DISCOUNT CARD

DORSET

people

ADVERTISEMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED BY 13TH JULY 2008 FOR INCLUSION IN THE AUTUMN 2008 ISSUE OFTHE VEGAN

Donald Watson House 21 Hylton Street Hockley Birmingham B18 6HJ

animals

environment

Tel: 0845 45 88244 Fax: 0121 523 1749 info@vegansociety.com www.vegansociety.com

THE VEGAN DISCOUNT CARD

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CLASSIFIEDS South of France- at the edge of the beautiful Cevenne. Self-catering vegetarian/vegan gite. Nestled in quiet and peaceful wooded hills, ideal for walking, mountain biking, painting, writing. Local attractions including a steam railway and a gorgeous grotte. Tel: 0033 4 66 61 02 38 e-mail: www.veggygite.com

HOLIDAYS ABROAD

FRANCE (Brittany 56) ‘La Sittelle’ Vegan B&B 22E pp Enjoy a warm welcome & good food in our comfortable old farmhouse.Relax in peaceful gardens, walk/cycle in beautiful countryside or explore the many places of interest.Nearby lake for swimming, sailing; canal for canoeing.Dinner optional.Easy access St Malo/Roscoff/Dinard.Members 10% Discount. TEL: 0033 297 93 00 61 or Email hils46@yahoo.co.uk

Andalucia - remote mountain village 40 mins sea - walking, wildlife - from £100 per week - 2 persons - £180 4 persons.

Tel 01202 431867 www.orgiva.org/alfornon

PUBLICATIONS VEGAN VIEWS - informal quarterly for Vegan Opinion. Sample copy £1. 4 issues £4 inc p&p. Harry Mather, Flat A15, 20 Dean Park Road, Bournemouth BH1 1JB SUNSHINE AND SHADOW. Autobiography of Wilfred Crone, well-known vegan/fruitarian. £7.50 inc P&P. Harry Mather, Flat A15, 20 Dean Park Road, Bournemouth BH1 1JB VEGAN VOICE magazine promotes a nonviolent lifestyle beneficial to the planet and to all animals. For the latest on veganism and animal rights, subscribe now to Vegan Voice, Australia’s celebrated and singular quarterly magazine! www.veganic.net

Legassi Gardens. Holiday apartments, Accra, Ghana. Vegan cafe, drumming, dance, yoga, massage and heritage tours.

From $35 per night per appartment. legassigardens@hotmail.com

JOB VACANCIES Brittany, France - ‘La Sittelle’. Gardener(s) required to help with upkeep of 5,500 sq metres of land over the summer months. Free accommodation plus meals to anyone who can help with a couple of hours gardening each day. Week long stays over the Summer months.

INTERNET SERVICES

Kerala & South India Vegan and vegetarian cuisine, eco-friendly resorts & hotels, beaches, backwaters, wildlife, trekking & camping.

Brochure: 01892 722440 Fax: 01892 724913 E-mail: info@keralaconnections.co.uk www.keralaconnections.co.uk

DIVINE FROG web services. A vegan business. Website design, implementation, development, maintenance and hosting. Please contact Ian : Tel : 07981 057697 Email : i.nicoll@divinefrog.co.uk www.divinefrog.co.uk

WEST CORK-vegetarian self-catering apartments for singles, couples and families in peaceful wooded surroundings.

Organic vegetables & vegan wholefoods available. Green Lodge, Trawnamadree, Ballylickey, Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland.

Tel: +353 2766 146, 00353 0861955451.

Email: greenlodge@eircom.net or website http://homepage.eircom.net/-greenlodge

PERSONAL

DISCOUNT CARD

This card entitles the bearer to discounts at a range of outlets, restaurants and hotels.

A full list of discounts is available from The Vegan Society.

DISCOUNT CARD THE VEGAN VALID FROM

may 2008

UNTIL

august 2008 REFERENCE CODE

Ref:FDB 008

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Single? Online dating for vegans, vegetarians, environmentalists and humanitarians. Meet your like-minded match in your local area. www.ethicalsingles.com

ORGANISATIONS ‘Jesus was a vegetarian’ www.donateatus.org KINDNESS UNLIMITED is a fellowship of Christian vegetarians and vegans of any denomination or none. For details please write to Kindness Unlimited, the Old Vicarage, Llangynog, Carmarthen SA33 5BS or email KindnessU@aol.com The Christian Vegetarian Association (CVA) believes that a plant based way of life represents good, responsible Christian Stewardship for all God’s creation. For further information on our work or to join us visit www.christianvegetarian.co.uk or

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Save A Life - Adopt A Goat

Sanctuary In Desperate Need Hillfields Animal Sanctuary, near Bromsgrove West Midlands, has 300 mouths to feed. The owner is battling against almost impossible odds and desperately needs help, both practical and financial. Please contact Web site www.hillfields-sanctuary.co.uk

The ideal gift for the person who has everything. We take into care those who have suffered from neglect, abuse and abandonment. Providing a loving home for the rest of their days Buttercup Sanctuary for goats, Maidstone, Kent, ME17 4JU Tel: (01622) 746410 Registered Charity: 1099627

www.Buttercups.org.uk PRACTITIONERS

“VEGAN VENTURE”

THE MAXWELL LEE MEMORIAL WORKSHOP

Applications are invited from vegetarians/vegans aged 16-25 years for a vegan cookery day to be held at the Vegetarian Society near Manchester on Saturday, 30 August 2008.

This course, with specially designed nutritious meals for young people by the Cordon Vert School, will be totally funded by The Vegetarian Charity in memory of the late Maxwell Lee. Maxwell became a vegetarian at the age of 12 for moral reasons and then a vegan in 1985. His commitment to the Vegetarian Society spanned 50 years in various roles. He was Honorary General Secretary of the International Vegetarian Union for 17 years and later President of the European Vegetarian Union as well as being involved in setting up The Vegetarian Charity of which he was Chairman from 1985 until his untimely death in 2005.

Please inform us where you saw this advertisement

FREE YOURSELF FROM LOW ENERGY LEVELS, FATIGUE AND ILL-HEALTH! I offer personal health and nutrition consultations (in-person/by telephone/email), group and individual fasting/detox supervision, iridology, health books and a home-study course in Natural Health. Contact me for your free brochure www.vibrancyUK.com (01626) 352765

Application forms from:

Grants Secretary, PO Box 473, Crewe, CW3 OWU or e-mail vegetariancharity@btinternet.com

If you are a vegan or vegetarian, keen on the non-exploitation of animals and the environment, an appropriate Overseas Aid Charity to support is

VEGFAM

Registered Charity No.232208 Inland Revenue Ref. XN8555 & XAD67AG (Gift Aid) VEGFAM “FEEDS THE HUNGRY WITHOUT EXPLOITING ANIMALS”

The Fragile Environment cannot support TWO populations – Humans and their Food Animals.

Since 1963, VEGFAM has been raising funds to alleviate hunger, thirst, malnutrition and starvation, helping people in over 40 countries, by financing sustainable, self-supporting plant food projects and safe water supplies.

VEGFAM helps people to help themselves by providing funds for seeds and tools for vegetable growing projects, fruit & nut tree planting, irrigation and water wells.

Emergency feeding in times of crisis and disaster.

Food security prevents malnutrition and starvation. Using plant foods is a far more efficient and sustainable way of addressing hunger overseas.

VEGFAM is professionally operated, entirely by volunteers, so as much as possible is spent on famine relief projects.

GENERAL DONATIONS paid into a/c No. 65023307 00 will be apportioned between: Projects (90%) Administration Expenses (9%) Office Building (1%) The Co-Operative Bank plc, 242 High Street, EXETER, EX4 3QB Sort Code 08-92-90

SUPPORTERS ARE INVITED TO PAY DONATIONS DIRECT INTO THE ABOVE BANK ACCOUNT, ONLINE, OR BY POST TO THE ADDRESS BELOW. For more information (Project News, Bankers Orders, Gift Aid, Legacies), please send an SAE to: VEGFAM, c/o Cwm Cottage, Cwmynys, Cilycwm, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, SA20 0EU. Telephone 01550 721197 Facsimile by arrangement.

Online Giving: http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/vegfam Website: www.vegfamcharity.org.uk Thank you for your support.

The Vegan l Summer 2008

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CROSSWORD Kate Sweeney & Vega

QUICK CROSSWORD set by Kate Sweeney Across 1 5 8 9 10 11 12 13 17 20 22 23 24 25

Esential oil with antiseptic and antifungal properties (3,4) Any protective covering to insulate or enrich the soil around a plant (5) Small rounded bread buns (5) Food eaten off the premises (US) (7) More sugary (7) Strain, sift (5) Lump, blob (of food) (6) Small storage cabinet (6) More (5) This has a fibrous husk and white ‘meat’ (7) Break down (sugar into alcohol) (7) Pizza originated in this country (5) This is used to 22 Across or raise dough (5) Sanitary practice important in the kitchen (7)

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 12 14 15 16 18 19 21

Open pies with fruit fillings (5) Any of several plants e.g.Valerian believed to have wide medicinal powers (7) Rice dish (7) Restaurant or cafe (6) Creates (5) Fruit and vegetables may be sold like this; free (5) With the highest temperature, most intense (7) Cook in a lot of fat (7) Using the tongue to taste (7) Dry in the open air e.g. tomatoes (7) Drop scone, griddle cake or _ _ _ _ _ _ pancake (6) Dry land, _ _ _ _ firma (5) Awake, attentive (5) Herb (5)

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD set by Vega Across 1 5 8 9 10 11 12 13 17 20 22 23 24 25

44

Please send in solutions to either along wit crossword h your na me and ad dress by 16th June 2008 Prizes ne xt issue: Quick: A pack of ou r new blac flavour Ve kcurrant g1 and a Vegan Soci Cryptic: ety Walle A box of t twelve be autiful handmade soaps

Lady of Tennyson’s poem is a tear-jerker (7) Six vehicle clergyman (5) Cap embedded in amber et cetera (5) Speciesist species and mink struggled (7) Endless call back precedes unfinished query for varnish (7) Labyrinth sounds corny (5) Mother Carey’s hen or free seabird? (6) A hundred voles disturbed spices (6) Pallid sticky pie (5) A canoe I cast adrift to get to large south Pacific island group (7) Engage five in love intrigue (7) Penny for new pylon backing sedentary coelenterate stage (5) Bottomless pit abbey uses oddly (5) Oar gone wrong herb (7)

The Vegan l Summer 2008

Solution to The Vegan Prize Crossword 51 (Quick:left/Cryptic:right) The winner of the Cryptic crossword is: Carolyn Griffin The winner of the Quick Crossword is: Dr H.G.A. Hughes

Down 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 12 14 15 16 18 19 21

Profit, we hear, is up by fifty (5) Rip coat off fruit (7) Latvian high church greens (7) River I get soy sauce from (6) Vegan loses Georgia over Missouri uprising causing spite (5) Cooking hot ingredient (like Indian) initially sounds cool (5) Compensate communist replacing head of green salad plant (7) Irk papa goulash pepper (7) Sleek piebalds devoured vegetable dish (4,3) Plain pod article in Roman house (7) Marco carries me to large Southeast Asian fruit (6) European region, hotel and house of cabbage (5) You old records produce high pitched barks (5) Soya milk brand in polar circulation (5)

Summer 2008

6/5/08

4:28 pm

Page 45

Summer 2008

6/5/08

4:28 pm

Page 46